Jiao Ban Shui [2025] No. 59
To the Departments (Commissions) of Transport of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, and all directly affiliated Maritime Safety Administrations:
Approved by the Ministry of Transport, the “Implementation Measures for Collecting Special Port Dues on Vessels from the United States” is hereby issued to you. Please comply with and implement these measures.
General Office of the Ministry of Transport
October 14, 2025
(This document is publicly released)
Implementation Measures for Collecting Special Port Dues on Vessels from the United States
Article 1 These Measures are formulated to implement the requirements of the announcement on collecting special port dues on vessels from the United States, in accordance with regulations such as the “International Maritime Transportation Regulations of the People’s Republic of China,” and to safeguard the development interests of China’s shipping industry.
Article 2 For vessels engaged in international maritime transportation that call at Chinese ports and meet one of the following conditions, the shipowner or its agent shall pay the special port dues on vessels:
(1) Vessels whose ownership is held by enterprises, other organizations, or individuals of the United States;
(2) Vessels operated by enterprises, other organizations, or individuals of the United States;
(3) Vessels owned or operated by enterprises or other organizations in which enterprises, other organizations, or individuals of the United States directly or indirectly hold 25% or more equity (voting rights, board seats);
(4) Vessels flying the flag of the United States;
(5) Vessels built in the United States.
Vessels built in China falling under items (1) to (4) of the preceding paragraph are exempt from payment. Vessels in ballast entering Chinese shipyards solely for repairs, and other vessels recognized as exempt, are also exempt from payment.
Article 3 The specific collection standards for the special port dues on vessels are as follows (less than 1 net ton shall be counted as 1 net ton):
(1) For vessels calling at Chinese ports from October 14, 2025: RMB 400 per net ton;
(2) For vessels calling at Chinese ports from April 17, 2026: RMB 640 per net ton;
(3) For vessels calling at Chinese ports from April 17, 2027: RMB 880 per net ton;
(4) For vessels calling at Chinese ports from April 17, 2028: RMB 1120 per net ton.
For the same vessel, the special port dues shall be collected for no more than 5 voyages within one year. April 17 of each year is the start date of the annual billing cycle.
Article 4 The special port dues on vessels shall be collected by the maritime administration authority at the location of the port called by the vessel, and shall be managed and used in accordance with relevant state regulations.
Article 5 If a vessel calls at multiple Chinese ports within the same voyage, the special port dues shall be paid only at the first port of call. For vessels calling at Chinese ports for more than 5 voyages within one year, the dues shall be paid for the first 5 voyages; subsequent voyages within the same year shall not be charged upon presentation of the payment information for the first 5 voyages.
Article 6 The shipowner or its agent shall, 7 days before the vessel’s expected arrival at a Chinese port (or upon departure from the last port if the voyage is less than 7 days), truthfully report to the maritime administration authority at the port location information such as the vessel’s country of build, flag state, owner, operator, charter status, and intended ports of call for the current voyage, and pay the special port dues on vessels.
Article 7 The maritime administration authority at the port location shall verify the information of all vessels scheduled to call at the port. If suspected concealment or omission of the vessel information listed in Article 6 is found, the shipowner or its agent shall be instructed to supplement the information.
Article 8 Vessels that violate these Measures by failing to pay the special port dues on vessels in accordance with the regulations shall not be processed for port entry and exit formalities by the maritime administration authority.
If the shipowner or its agent evades payment of the special port dues on vessels, for vessels that have already departed from a Chinese port, the outstanding fees must be paid in full before the next call at a Chinese port.
Article 9 The scope, standards, and /end times for the collection of special port dues on vessels may be dynamically adjusted as needed.
Article 10 These Measures shall be interpreted by the Ministry of Transport and shall take effect from the date of issuance.
